Watch as Boris Johnson's time at Express & Star prompts laughter in House of Commons

Dudley North MP Ian Austin cited the achievements of the scheme in the chamber during business questions, which prompted chuckles at the expense of the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Mr Austin said: "Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the greatest evening newspaper in the country, the Express & Star, and the brilliant work of Wolverhampton University, which have launched the green shoots scheme? The scheme has now successfully distributed £4 million of regional growth fund money, supporting 65 businesses, creating or protecting 600 jobs and, extraordinarily, generating over 11 million in private sector investment to support businesses in places such as Dudley.

"Contrary to what he said earlier, everybody knows that Dudley was the real birthplace of the industrial revolution."

Business Secretary Greg Clark responded: "Having dipped my toes into controversy by talking about places with claims to be the cradle of the industrial revolution, I am certainly not going to nominate the best local newspaper in the country—suffice it to say that I gather the Foreign Secretary began his illustrious career on the Express & Star, although I do not know whether that shows its prescience, or whether it has recovered from that particular judgment.

"Local newspapers make a vital contribution to the success of local business, and I am delighted to hear about the initiative that the Express & Star is promoting."

Mr Austin added: "Hats off to Keith Harrison and the Express and Star team. What a fantastic result.

“When I first suggested the paper should get involved with using the Regional Growth Fund to create jobs in the Black Country, I had no idea it would such a success. That’s down to the paper and the university who have worked together to help local firms win new contracts, introduce new products and create more jobs.

“Imagine how much better off Britain would be if every local paper had run a campaign and fund like this.”

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, the Government Chief Whip, said: "This has been a fantastic scheme which has created both jobs and opportunities for so many people right across the region.

"The Black Country, Staffordshire, and Shropshire should feel very proud of the leadership shown by the Express & Star, Shropshire Star and Wolverhampton University. It is a model that could be replicated in future and help support many other businesses to expand and grow in the future."